Following the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 it was discovered that the bulk of particulate samples consisted of conglomerates of concrete and glass.  While this attack was not a nuclear incident, it did bring to light that in the event of an attack the majority of samples to be collected and analyzed would consist of a melt-glass material containing urban debris.The purpose of this research is to prepare melt-glass samples that can be analyzed for isotopic components, allowing researchers to establish methods of analysis prior to the need arising.  This research is being conducted as a collaboration between the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.Four samples were irradiated at the Flattop Critical Assembly at the Nevada National Security Site.  The samples consisted of gold, platinum, titanium, and iridium, each containing an aluminum-gold wire as a neutron flux monitor.  Following irradiation the samples were shipped to the University of Nevada Las Vegas where they were dissolved and prepared for inclusion in the melt-glass complex.  The melt-glass samples consisted of 1 gram pre-treated soda lime glass, 1 gram pre-treated Portland cement, and a combined solution of the irradiation products totaling 1 milliliter.  The samples were heated in a tube furnace at 1500�C for one hour under an argon atmosphere.  The samples were removed, packaged, and shipped to their respective laboratory.The sample preparation for this project was successful.  However, the melt-glass did fuse to the platinum-gold crucibles that were used.  Gamma spectroscopy of the prepared melt-glass and liquid aliquots was completed.  Once the melt-glass has been successfully removed from the crucible further analysis can be conducted.As this collaborative project continues, different isotopes and urban-debris complexes will be utilized for melt-glass preparation.

Preparation of simulated urban debris samples formed from nuclear weapons explosions

248th National Meeting (2014)

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